Course Description
The Canadian Health Care System 101–104 series can help you understand not only what nurses do in Canada, but the professional, ethical and legal principles that help explain why they do it that way.Canadian Health Care System & Professional Nursing Practice Series
CHS 101–104
Working as a nurse in Canada requires more than strong clinical knowledge. Nurses must also understand the Canadian health care system, professional and ethical responsibilities, client rights, privacy and confidentiality, therapeutic relationships, delegation, medication safety, documentation and professional accountability.
The CCES Canadian Health Care System & Professional Nursing Practice Series is a four-course continuing professional development series designed especially for internationally educated nurses, nursing graduates and other nurses who want to strengthen their understanding of nursing practice in Canada.
For nurses educated outside Canada, some laws, professional expectations, terminology, workplace processes and standards of practice may be different from those encountered in their country of education or previous employment. These courses provide practical, easy-to-understand explanations and examples to help learners become more familiar with the Canadian nursing environment.
CHS 101 – Nursing in Canada: Canadian Healthcare System for Nurses
Begin with an introduction to the Canadian health care system and the environment in which Canadian nurses practise. Learners explore how health care is organized and delivered, the roles of different levels of government and health care organizations, and the professional responsibilities of nurses working within the Canadian system.
This course provides an important foundation for internationally educated nurses who want to better understand how Canadian nursing practice fits within the larger health care system.
CHS 102 – Ethical Nursing Practice, Consent & Client Rights
Explore the ethical and professional principles that guide nursing decisions and protect clients receiving care.
Learners examine ethical nursing practice, informed consent, client autonomy and choice, professional accountability, ethical decision-making and the responsibilities nurses have when a client's wishes, safety concerns and health care decisions intersect.
Practical situations help learners consider how ethical principles and client rights influence everyday nursing practice.
CHS 103 – Therapeutic Nurse-Client Relationships, Privacy & Confidentiality
Professional nursing relationships require trust, communication, appropriate boundaries and respect for the client's privacy.
This course examines therapeutic nurse-client relationships, professional boundaries, communication, confidentiality and the protection of personal health information. Learners explore situations that nurses may encounter in the workplace and consider how professional judgment, privacy requirements and appropriate communication protect both clients and health care professionals.
CHS 104 – Safe Nursing Practice: Delegation, Medication Administration & Documentation
This course brings together three areas that are essential to safe and accountable nursing practice: delegation, medication administration and documentation.
Learners examine assignment and delegation, working safely with unregulated care providers and other members of the health care team, professional accountability, medication safety, client rights, clinical judgment and accurate documentation.
The course encourages learners to consider three important questions when making nursing decisions: What does the client need? What do current professional and regulatory expectations require? What organizational policy or procedure applies?
Why Take the CHS 101–104 Series?
Together, these four courses provide learners with a broader understanding of how nursing is practised within the Canadian health care environment.
The series is particularly valuable for internationally educated nurses because it helps connect existing nursing knowledge and experience with Canadian professional expectations. Rather than focusing only on memorizing information, learners are encouraged to consider how Canadian nurses communicate, make decisions, protect client rights, use clinical judgment and remain accountable for their practice.
Students may take the courses individually or complete the CHS 101–104 Canadian Healthcare System and Professional Nursing Practice Certificate Bundle for a more comprehensive learning experience.
All courses are fully online and self-paced, allowing students to complete their learning around work, family and other commitments.
Please note: These are continuing professional development (CPD) educational courses. They are not nursing degree, diploma, bridging or licensing programs and do not replace clinical education, employer orientation or requirements established by a provincial or territorial nursing regulatory authority.
